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Delegate Ken Plum is the senior Democrat on the House Commerce & Labor Committee.
February 25, 2009 |
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Commentary
Stimulating the Virginia Economy
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
As I left my office in the General Assembly Building one evening last week at about 7 p.m. I was blocked from crossing the street to get to my car by a parade of elephants, horses, and other Barnum and Bailey Circus entertainers. They were making their way to the Richmond Coliseum for their annual show. Later in the week I was able to go to the circus with my daughter Helen and grandchildren Emma and Conrad. This year's version of the Greatest Show on Earth featured a variety of spectacular magic tricks throughout the show including a disappearing elephant. A couple of days later the circus had packed up and moved off to Norfolk and then to Fairfax.
Visitors to the General Assembly sometimes express what they see as being like a circus. Certainly there are a lot of bright lights, skilled people and more than a few tricks. In early January 140 legislators descend on Richmond and after 46 days of a flurry of activities that will end this week return to their homes. The products of the legislative session as meager as they may be will be examined in future columns.
The Conference Committee working on the budget will make its report in the next couple of days. The only good news in an otherwise bleak picture is that federal stimulus monies will help off-set some of the losses of state revenue. Virginia revenues that have been declining for a year fell sharply in December with unprecedented reductions in general fund revenues occurring since mid-January. Fortunately, passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides the state with about one billion dollars that can offset the immediate loss of $800 million. Of course, stimulus monies are likely to be one time funds. If the economy does not start to recover we simply will be in a hole again in a year.
Other components of the federal stimulus Act will be announced over the next several months as to funding levels and specific requirements. There will be extensive tax cuts for working families and small businesses to create more confidence and to encourage spending. The Act also includes monies for infrastructure investments that are "shovel ready" to put people to work and to make many long overdue improvements. Targeted investments will be made to improve technology in health care and to expand the production of renewable energy. Tax credits and other financial enhancements should make higher education more affordable. Additional support will also be coming to local government.
The stimulus package came just in time to allow us to balance the budget for at least the immediate future. It also allows us to pack up just like the circus and move on.
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Climate Change Citizen Action
Buy Fresh Buy Local helps consumers find local products while building relationships between growers, food artisans, farmers' markets retailers, restaurants, and institutions. Visit www.buylocalvirginia.org
The mission of VATNet is to increase recycling of assistive devices among individuals with disabilities and limited resources by developing a statewide recycling network and fostering the development of new recycling programs. VATNet works to ensure that all Virginians in need of assistive devices and who are without the financial means to acquire those devices will have access to the devices they need to improve their independence, their ability to live productively in their community, to continue their education, and to pursue employment. For more information go to www.vats.org. |
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Announcements
The Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) has begun mailing 352,526 real estate assessment notices to county taxpayers. The notices will be sent to all property owners of taxable parcels in the county. Of the 352,526 taxable parcels, 335,342 had some value change. More than 95% of residential properties experienced an assessment decrease for 2009. Taxable real estate value in Fairfax County decreased by $22.86 billion or -9.95% from 2008. For more informaiton visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2009/2009-real-estate-assessment-change-notices-mailed.htm.
Donation and transplantation save lives. Just one donor can save 7 lives, restore sight to two people, and help many others. To sign up as a donor online and learn more about the importance of organ, tissue, and eye donation, visit save7lives.org or a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office.
Virginia's high school seniors rank third in the nation for the percentage of students earning a score of three or higher on the rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) examinations. The findings announced by the College Board in its fifth annual Advanced Placement Report to the Nation placed the Commonwealth third nationally in AP achievement for the second straight year. Virginia ranked fourth in the nation in the College Board's 2007 report. Of Virginia's 2008 public school graduates, 21.3 percent earned a grade of three or better on at least one AP examination, compared with 20.4 in the class of 2007 and 16.5 percent in the class of 2003. Only two states, Maryland and New York, had higher percentages of seniors earning grades of three or better. The national average for the class of 2008 was 15.2 percent.
Disability Services E-News is a listserv that keeps subscribers informed about resources and issues that affect people with physical and sensory disabilities. The listserv sends out one brief e-mail each week. The listserv is the primary vehicle for publicly announcing meetings and activities of the Disabilitiy Services Board. To subscribe, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/email/lists/. Fill in your e-mail address, click on the box before "Disability services and news," (listed under Human Services) and then click subscribe. You will be sent an e-mail asking you to respond in order to finish subcribing. You must respond to this e-mail and write "ok" in the body to complete the subscription.
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Calendar of Events
Attend an Open Forum Public Hearing on Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway/John Mosby Highway (Route 50) hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation on Thursday, February 26 (inclement weather date is Thursday, March 5), 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Learn about the proposed widening of Route 50 from four lanes divided to six lanes divided to increase capacity along the roadway. The proposed improvements are located on Route 50 (Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway) between Route 742 (Poland Road) and Route 28 (Sully Road). the 3.6-mile widening would also include improvements at cross streets and stream crossings.
We Are America Now is a breakfast event hosted by Northern Virginia Family Service that celebrates the immeasurable contributions of immigrants to the Washington Metropolitan region. Attend this celebratory event on Friday, February 27, 7:30 a.m., at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church. For more information visit www.nvfs.org.
Attend the Washington Metro Green Job Fair on February 27, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington (near the Ballston Metro Station). Companies can register to sponsor or participate at www.vsbn.org.
Great Energy Efficiency Day 2009 - Keys to Unlocking Energy Efficiency - will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50, Washington, D.C.. For more information visit www.ase.org/geed.
Take your recyclable electronics to the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, on Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free "Electric Sunday" recycling event is hosted by the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program and is limited to the collection of televisions, computers, and peripheral electronic devices including keyboards, speakers, printers, external drives, and other such materials.
Parents of Exceptional Children (POEC) is a non-profit organization for parents and friends of children with special needs. POEC's General Membership Meeting/Information Session will be held on Sunday, March 8, 4:00 p.m., at Glory Days Restaurant, 2567John Milton Drive (Fox Mill Shopping Center), Herndon. RSVP at poec@poec.org or call Debbie Brodsky at 703.689.3996.
The Reston Community Orchestra presents "From One Visionary to Another - Papa Haydn to Papa Simon," a musical tribute to Robert E. Simon in observance of his 95th birthday, on March 15, 4:00 p.m., at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. The Reston Chorale will join the Orchestra for a first-ever joint performance. Featured guests artist is Edwin Thayer Horn.
Attend "How to Win an Election," a 2-day strategy seminar open to candidates, their spouses, and campaign managers March 17-18, 2009, 9:00 a.m., 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA. The seminar is sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Co-Ops and the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. A fee is required. Call 804.290.1021 or 804.968.4091 to learn more.
On March 28, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., millions of people around the globe will be turning off the lights for one hour - Earth Hour - to make a bold statement about climate change.
The 20th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, "Sustainability - The Nexus of Economic Prosperity & Environmental Stewardship," will be held March 31-April 2, 2009, at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. For more information visit www.environmentva.org.
Attend the Green Expo on Thursday, April 16, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE (between Park and Center Streets). The Green Expo will present practical information and demonstrations to help you make green choices. Presentations and discussions for children and adults from local organizations and businesses including efficiency tips, purchasing local organic products, creating green gardens, recycling options, and much more to save you money and help the environment. No advance registration is necessary.
The Virginia Guardianship & Elder Rights Conference will be held April 27-28 in Richmond. The Conference will focus on activities of special interest to individuals with disabilities and their family members, caregivers, service providers, advocates, and decision-makers. Limited scholarships are available for individuals with disabilities to attend. For more information visit www.vgavirginia.org/conferences.asp.
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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